A Foot in Both Camps – How G+D is Navigating the Digital Transformation in Money

The landscape of currency is undergoing a significant transformation. While cash remains a fundamental means of payment, the rise of digital transactions and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) is reshaping the future of money.

One company at the forefront of this evolution is Giesecke+Devrient (G+D), a global leader in security technology and currency management. Dr Wolfram Seidemann, CEO of the group’s Currency Technology business unit, shared with Currency News™ his insights into the company’s journey in currency technology, the future of cash, the role of CBDCs in a rapidly digitising world and how G+D is addressing the markets for two different forms of public payments that, in the minds of some, are competitive.

Q: To start, can you give some personal background on your career to date?

A: I have a degree in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University of Munich and joined G+D in 1999, starting in the smart card division within R&D. From there, my career took me across Asia, including Singapore and Taiwan, where I was responsible for the region. I moved back to Europe and was responsible for the sales of banknote processing systems. After that I took over as the head of Louisenthal, focusing on security features and paper, before taking on the position of CEO of Currency Technology in 2017.